Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Letters to a Young Pastor

Inerrant or Infallible or What? (Letters to a Young Pastor)

April 14, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen 4 Comments

Inerrant or Infallible

Dear ______: So good to hear from you! Glad to hear that you are doing well. Summer plans? The confusing spot you are in is, in a way, a lovely benefits of a residential seminary: you regularly talk with other people who are in the thick of theological exploration. They come from different backgrounds. They have different assumptions. They may be chewing on classes you […]

Filed Under: Bible, Ministry Tagged With: Inerrant or infallible, Letters to a Young Pastor, Rule of faith and life

Letters to a Young Pastor: A Role Model for Your Preaching Life

January 27, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen 3 Comments

A Role Model for Your Preaching Life

Dear ______: Yes, your first preaching class brings a new and different challenge. I’ll confess I’m almost glad to hear you say you are terrified. I don’t want you to feel bad. But I do want you to take it seriously. For a literary role model I offer you Frodo from Tolkein’s The Lord of the […]

Filed Under: Ministry Tagged With: A Role Model for Your Preaching Life, Biblical Preaching, How to preach a sermon, Letters to a Young Pastor, St. John Chrysostom

Letters to a Young Pastor: The Inner Life of the Writer

January 22, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

The Inner Life of the Writer

Dear ______: Sorry to let so much time lapse between letters. Thanks for your note, and I’m sorry that writing is proving to be such a struggle. You are in good company. If writing is part of what you do for a living then inner turmoil is probably another part. You can find a lot of professional […]

Filed Under: Ministry Tagged With: Journal keeping, Letters to a Young Pastor, Spiritual disciplines, St. Augustine, The inner life of the writer

Letters to a Young Pastor: Giving Thanks

November 25, 2015 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Giving Thanks

Dear ______: I’m sending this a bit early since I know you are heading out for the Thanksgiving break. I wanted to be sure it reaches you, especially since I know you are having a hard time just now. Holiday gatherings can amplify those feelings (imagine how ambivalent the poor turkey is), but I hope there is also […]

Filed Under: Bible, Ministry Tagged With: Give thanks, Gratitude, Letters to a Young Pastor, Psalm 136, Thanksgiving

Letters to a Young Pastor: Getting to Know the Story of the Old Testament

November 19, 2015 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Dear______: No, I am not kidding. The story of the Old Testament is actually pretty simple. Once you grasp it, all the parts make more sense. I know, finding your way around can be about as confusing as driving in Boston during construction season: The overall timeline is not made clear. Once you figure out the […]

Filed Under: Bible, Ministry Tagged With: Getting to know the Bible, Letters to a Young Pastor, The Story of the Old Testament

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Theology. It’s good for you.

I'm a Church historian by trade. My writing, speaking, and teaching explores the Christian past to equip today's disciples. Join me here for regular posts on the best of theology, spirituality, community, and ministry. read more…

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